Newsletter

Jason Babin voids contract to become free agent; Red Bryant picked Jaguars over several other teams

Bob.Self@jacksonville.com The Jaguars' Jason Babin celebrates after recovering a fumble. Babin voided the final two years of his contract and is now a free agent.

Bruce.Lipsky@jacksonville.com--12/15/13--The Jaguars' Jason Babin (58)(L) chases Buffalo's E.J. Manuel (3) in the first half. The Jacksonville Jaguars lost to the Buffalo Bills 27-20 in their next to last home game on Sunday, December 15, 2013 in Jacksonville, FL. (Florida Times-Union/Bruce Lipsky)

Bob.Self@jacksonville.com--11/17/13--Jaguars #58, Jason Babin tries to keep teammates spirits up during the closing minutes of Sunday's loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The Jacksonville Jaguars hosted the Arizona Cardinals at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, FL Sunday, November 17, 2013. The game was tied 14 to 14 at the half but the Cardinals pulled away in the second half and won with a final score of 27 to 14. (The Florida Times-Union/Bob Self)

Jaguars coach Gus Bradley’s recruiting abilities landed the team its first acquisition of the offseason in former Seattle defensive end Red Bryant.

However, now Bradley and the Jaguars are dealing with a subtraction after defensive end Jason Babin voided his contract Monday.

Bryant said that he had given Kansas City his word he would visit them after he left Jacksonville following his visit on Friday. Bradley and the Jaguars staff changed his mind. Bryant canceled a Sunday meeting with Green Bay and Monday’s promise to the Chiefs and signed a four-year deal worth $17 million ($5.25 million guaranteed) on Saturday.

Bryant had played under Bradley for four seasons (2009-12) when Bradley served as Seattle’s defensive coordinator.

“They made me feel so welcome,” Bryant said. “They made me feel like I could really come in and be a factor in what they’re trying to do. It was an opportunity that I felt was too good to pass up. I’m just so excited for this next chapter in my career.”

Babin’s chapter with the Jaguars might not be over yet. The 10-year veteran is a free agent after opting out of the final two years of his contract. However, the Jaguars haven’t closed the door on his return, albeit at a much lower price than the $6.175 million he would have counted against this year’s salary cap.

General manager Dave Caldwell said in a text message the team could re-sign Babin, who had a team-best 7.5 sacks last year as the Jaguars’ starting Leo defensive end. He had 40 tackles in 764 snaps.

League sources said earlier this off-season that Babin could return to the Jaguars if they came up empty signing a premium pass-rushing free agent and/or decided to address other positions in the draft.

Babin turns 34 in May but impressed coaches with his leadership and work ethic last year.

Leadership and physical prowess is what Bryant brings to the Jaguars. The 6-foot-4, 323-pound Bryant, who turns 30 next month, is expected to make an impact in stopping the run. He should have no transition difficulty having played for Bradley. Bryant said he knows the defense “from the top down.”

“I will bring my style of football, being physical,” Bryant said. “Attacking the line of scrimmage and making it difficult for opposing running backs to have lanes. I’ll continue to work on collapsing the pocket. Whatever is needed of me to help this team be successful, that’s what I plan on doing.”

Bryant was Seattle’s defensive captain last year during the team’s championship run. The Seahawks ranked first in total defense. Bryant comes to a Jaguars defense that ranked 29th against the run. He’ll be reunited with Todd Wash, who coached Seattle’s defensive line from 2011-12.

“Obviously, he brings a big body that will be used on first and second down to play [outside] and then he’ll play some three technique as well,” Wash said. “He just adds a lot more competition to our group. We wanted to get bigger. That’s the thing we talked about over the last year — to get a little bit bigger at some spots to sturdy up our run defense. He eats up blocks and the guys behind him are a little freer to make plays.”

That should translate to more success for middle linebacker Paul Posluszny, who made the Pro Bowl after recording 161 tackles last season. Bryant, a Texas A&M alum, described Posluszny as a “phenomenal linebacker” and said he remembered watching him play at Penn State.

Posluszny said there was an anxiousness knowing Bryant was coming in for his visit last Friday and an excitement when word came Saturday he had signed.

“He’s played on the best defense in the league,” Posluszny said. “So, he knows what it takes to be an elite defense. He was a team captain, which is great for us. The more veteran leadership you can have, the better. He knows the type of scheme we’re running. We automatically got better with him on the team.”

In addition to the Packers and Chiefs, Bryant chose the Jaguars over the Redskins. Bryant didn’t know Caldwell prior to his visit, but quickly formed a favorable impression.

“I was as impressed with him as anyone in the organization,” Bryant said. “He’s a strong leader and I feel he’s doing everything he can to make Jacksonville a premier team in the league.”

Bryant will start the same journey he successfully undertook in Seattle. After being selected in the fourth round, the Seahawks went 4-12 his rookie season, the same mark the Jaguars posted last season. Seattle went 5-11 in his second season, but is now the envy of the league.

“A lot of people forget the journey that led up to the Super Bowl,” Bryant said. “There were a lot of shortcomings and hard falls, but we persevered. I was there during the whole process. I know what it takes. I know what type of commitment you have to have from the front office. That’s the same commitment that I see the Jaguars having. I really believe the future is going to be bright.

“They have a vision, from the owner to the general manager, to everybody in the program.”

That vision might include a third year for Babin with the Jaguars. If Babin doesn’t return, defensive end Andre Branch would be the team’s returning sack leader with six last season.